From: Andy Wardley Subject: Dynamic Bridles for Box of Tricks et al. Date: Wed, 5 Jun 1996 07:47:25 -1000 Organization: Peritas Multimedia Message-ID: This is going to be a bit of a rush post, I'm afraid. I've been promising to write this for some weeks (or months?) now and this is my last chance for another few weeks. Some of you may remember me mentioning a cunning plan I had to create dynamic bridles for the Box of Tricks, Reflex and Fusion without the aid of a safety net. In fact, my method requires only the original bridle, tied with a single knot and the trick is done. If you don't like the way it flies, you can shift the knot down a bit or simply untie it to revert to the original bridle. As with any of the Fizz kites, the bridle consists of a piece of line which is attached at the T-Piece (T) and has a tow point loop at the other end (P). Onto this is lark's headed the outer bridle line which connects the upper spreader/LE point (U) to the lower spreader/LE point (L). The bad ASCII-art diagram shows this for the right wing. U (one piece of line T<->P, / another piece U<->L) / / T----------@- - - - -L P| Simply slip the outer (U<->L) line off the tow point: U / / / T----------+ - - - - -L P| and tie an overhand knot joining the upper and lower LE bridle sections together. Keep the line folded over at the original bridle point (marked with a white dot on a newer kite) U | | | T----------+ ====@ - -L P| Then lark's head the U<->L line back onto the tow point and viola, one dynamic bridle. U | | | T----------@====@ - -L P| It's really a lot easier if you try it rather than trying to visualise quite what my crap ASCII art represents. As for how far in the knot should go, the Fusion and Box of Tricks are fairly simple. Just pull the outer bridle line (U<->L)down and towards the T-Piece until it is taut. The knot should be placed so that it is at the same height as the lower spreader. You will find that the angle from point L -> knot -> point U is roughly 90 degrees. U | | | T__ @ - -L \__ / \__ / @ P| If you find the action of the bridle too extreme, try moving the knot further down towards the tow point. If you're feeling a little crazy, move the knot up and away from the tow point. For the Box and the Fusion, a knot in line with the spreader is about as far up as you can go without the kite getting very "rocky". That is, the nose of the kite tends to rock forwards, particularly when coming out of a turn. With the Reflex, a knot at the spreader will be fairly tame. Try moving it an inch or two *above* the "spreader line" to see the effect. The general effect of the bridle is to make the kite a little more extreme. If you're a trick flier looking for an extra something and don't mind sacrificing a little precision, then you might want to give it a try. The kite tends to turn faster, Axel flatter and respond slightly smoother to input. The downside is that it can take a little getting used to, especially in lighter winds where the nose rocking forwards can be a problem. The great thing is that if you don't like it, just untie the knot and in a matter of seconds, you're back to the original bridle. Now is that clever or what? The only downside of tieing a knot in the bridle is that it makes it difficult to adjust the bridle for different windspeeds. Having said that, I rarely adjust the bridles on the BOT, Reflex or Fusion but your mileage may vary. I've done something similar to the Phantom Elite with some excellent results, but it was far from a simple matter. The same trick simply didn't work, pulling the bridle point too far down and shrinking the bridle size in general up to frame stressing point. More on that one when I get it right... Sorry if the above is a little unclear but it's been a rush job as I said. This is my last day at work for a few weeks now as I'm getting married on Saturday and then spending a couple of weeks kite flying...er...honeymooning in Mexico. Please feel free to post or email questions, but don't expect answers until the end of June. Take care y'all. Cheers Andy (single, just) Andy Wardley || . Hacker, digital artist/designer, webmister, brave warrior thricefold decorated in the winky wars, best mate to the rich and famous, no really, I mean that. I luv you, you're my best mate.... For a good time, http://www.peritas.com/~abw = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = From: michael.emery@stack.inet.fi (Mike Emery) Subject: Re: Dynamic Bridles for Box of Tricks et al. Date: Mon, 10 Jun 1996 05:14:40 -1000 Organization: STACK Suomi Message-ID: <4phe50$5os@kuikka.inet.fi> In article , Andy Wardley says: >Some of you may remember me mentioning a cunning plan I had to create >dynamic bridles for the Box of Tricks, Reflex and Fusion without the >aid of a safety net. In fact, my method requires only the original >bridle, tied with a single knot and the trick is done. If you don't >like the way it flies, you can shift the knot down a bit or simply >untie it to revert to the original bridle. I have also played around with the bridle of the BOTty and most of my other kites to convert it into a dynamic/turbo/infinity style (if you don't know what we mean take a look at a MEFM, Aziza) but I mostly replace the static line from the centre-T with a length of Dynacore with a series of knots at 2cm intervals. I attach the adjustable line at the knot closest to the standard length, tie off any excess and use a short loop of Dynacore as the pick up point for the flying lines. This way I can play (pronounced "experiment") with the degree of "dynamism" without having to rebuild the bridle. Knot every 2 cms. Lark's Head at centre-T ---x---x---x---x---x------------@------------x---x---x---x---x--- ===@= Lark's Head-ed loop for flying lines (x2) The first thing to take a note of is the pick up point of the flying lines in each side of the kite. Pull the adjustable legs taut in the plane of the frame and note where it lies in relation to the lower spreader. Keep this in mind when modifying the bridle as this is roughly where you want it always to be, even with the modified bridle. >The general effect of the bridle is to make the kite a little more >extreme. If you're a trick flier looking for an extra something and >don't mind sacrificing a little precision, then you might want to >give it a try. The kite tends to turn faster, Axel flatter and In general, what I aim to do is set the kite a little "lighter" than with a standard bridle (the kite is more upright in flight). This gives a slightly better low wind performance and better speed control. The dynamic bridle (I'll stick to Andy's terminology) allows you to still maintain a fast turnrate and small turn radius. From what Andy has written above I would guess that he does not "lighten" the kite's main bridle. If the kite "wobbles" coming out of fast, tight turns I would suggest that the offset (or amount of dynamism) is too high. The change in angle of attack is too much for the sail and there is too much rotation of the frame around the spine (a sort of partial Axel). Once you get the right balance between bridle position and offset the result can be very precise but still with the possibility to "go radical" (what an awful phrase). One of the best results that I've had was with a Jester 2; good figures (still) but also great snap spins and stalls. You can hammer the kite at the ground, pull a 180 spin to a dead stall, hover for a few seconds then snap it back into a climb. With the standard bridle Mr. Oversteer *can* be an unwelcome guest. >I've done something similar to the Phantom Elite with some excellent >results, but it was far from a simple matter. The same trick simply >didn't work, pulling the bridle point too far down and shrinking the >bridle size in general up to frame stressing point. More on that one >when I get it right... Heretic ! Unbeliever ! As it says in the Book of Fizz, "What Tim Benson has put together let NO MAN rent assunder." The Phantom Elite (in all of its myriad forms) is beyond criticism, past improvement and we True Disciples WILL NOT STAND for this kind of messing about with the Great Man's finest moment. And I thought you were one of His Chosen Acolytes ! Mike (who has no commercial or personal connection with Fizz or Ground Zero despite what you might think) Mike Emery \ | Trying to perform an Axel with 0 Metsolantie |\ | an unfamiliar kite is like Lc-------------------------/__\ | sending a letter second class. #\c------------------------\ / | You can't be sure if it is \ 36640 Iltasmaki |/ | going to make it all the way. / L Finland / | = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =